The North Carolina football team suffered a devastating blow late Sunday night when three players were cited by UNC public safety officers for marijuana possession.
The athletes, all of whom are sophomores, are wide receiver Adarius Bowman, linebacker Fred Sparkman and defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas. The incident led to the indefinite suspension of all three players from the school’s football team.
From all indications, the players will not play this weekend against No. 10 Utah.
Head coach of the Tarheels, John Bunting, said he was very troubled by the incident.
“I can’t remember a time when I was more disappointed,” Bunting said. “The last thing we need after an exciting win like we had Saturday evening was an off-the-field situation that would embarrass the university and this football program.”
Bunting went on to say that all three players deny their involvement with marijuana, but also said that the suspensions will be upheld unless additional evidence is attained which exonerates the athletes.
Bowman is the Tarheels’ leading receiver this year with 18 catches for 329 yards and three touchdowns. Averaging more than 18 yards per catch, the loss of Bowman could severely affect North Carolina’s offensive game plan going into one of its tougher games of the year with nationally ranked Utah.
The Tarheels will be affected defensively as well, considering that Sparkman is the team’s leading tackler with 61 tackles in six games this season. The loss of Thomas should be less meaningful, but his role as a defensive lineman with nine tackles on the season will still have an impact.